by Jonathan Manafo | Jul 12, 2017 | Sunday Conversations
What if you could see the future? What if you knew what was coming in 5, 10, or 15 years? You knew the joy around the corner, but you also knew the pain that was waiting for you?
This is the gift Dr. Louise Banks was given. Unless of course you view it as a curse. To each there own I guess.
For the next 3 posts we will be using Movies as our context and seeing if we can discover truth on the Big Screen. Our first movie – Arrival.
To be honest, I’m not a SCi-Fi fan. I definitely don’t read sci-fi for fun. But this movie was drawing me in. I had heard many good things about it, and then a certain friend told me that I had no choice but to watch it. So…I did. It was pretty clear that it would make the cut for this series. There was so much going on in this script.
What is it about?
It starts with the main character, Louise, having what look to be flashbacks. The scene quickly changes to what the gist of this movie will be about, Aliens visiting planet earth. 12 different space ships with two Aliens in each of the ships have arrived.
Louise is a linguistics professor who is called on to learn and decipher the Alien’s language. She’s joined by a Physicist (Ian Donnelly). They are the only two people who really make any progress in understanding what these Aliens (Heptapods) were trying to communicate to the world. After much work and hours of looking at their written language, Louise and Ian have some major breakthroughs – they are beginning to understand each other.
While this is going on, Louise is having, what we think to be flashbacks, but what is becoming increasingly clear are actually visions of her future. These visions are so real, she is experiencing the future like it’s happening in the present. Her contact with the Heptapods have given her a gift to look into the future – more than that, to experience time like it’s all before her, no past or future.
The US army, who is organizing all this work and mission, are tempted to do what governments normally do, blow things up. It seems like violence is always the first response in any tense situation. This is the case here as well. However, with the help of Louise and Ian, the governments of the world avoid a war against these Aliens, who are in the end, peaceful.
Arrival is essentially a Sci-Fi movie about a linguistic professor who defies the government, while passionately and skilfully working to understand this Alien presence…always working on the basis that you can’t come to any full conclusions about your enemies and those who are different than you are, without fully seeing them for who they are and what they are actually trying to communicate.
When you come to think about it, this idea and method could work well in any area of conflict resolution.
What are the themes that really stood out to me? What parts of the story speak to truth?
Language…
Ian quotes Louise in their first conversation, “Language is the foundation of any civilization…it’s the glue that holds people together. It is the first weapon drawn in any conflict”
In their first crack at the problem, Ian throws his scientific approach into the ring. Louise responds with, “How about we talk to them before throwing math problems at them.
What drew me most to this story was Louise’s undeterred drive to ‘UNDERSTAND’
– how can one ever make a conclusive decision on someone else until they really understand who they are and what they’re attempting to say.
– Language is so key in conflict resolution
We are often tempted to understand something quickly without really understanding something fully.
A theme that has resonated with me, when it comes to understanding and working through our human differences, while at the same time trying to convey the good news, are found in these two words, GENTLENESS & RESPECT. (1 Peter 3:15) As people who follow Jesus, we have got to be the better person, the one who actually attempts to understand where our neighbour is coming from, who they are, why they may act in the way they do. Maybe that’s why this part of the story impacted me so much.
Also worth noting: The comparison of Genesis 11 & Acts 2. In Genesis 11, different languages confused and divided people, in Acts 2, with the Spirit’s empowerment, languages actually brought people together. The good news was to be shared with all people and all languages.
Response & Reaction to conflict or differences…
Why is it that so often our first response to conflict is violence.
“He pulls a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of your guys to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue.“ (Untouchables, Jimmy Malone & Elliot Ness)
This theme seems to to come around a lot doesn’t it? Why can’t peace be our first option?
As a follower of Jesus, I want to do my best to be a Peace Maker…a person of peace. The argument is always, what if this happens, and what about this scenario, but can’t we at least be people who think PEACE first, not SHOOT first?
(movie quote) “If all I ever gave you was a hammer??? Then everything is a nail.”
Louise, in one of the final scenes, goes into the Alien ship, to be in close proximity with the Aliens. Here’s the thing: We often try and fix problems and conflicts from the outside, shoot from far away, attack from the outside, instead of taking a step closer and fully understanding our differences before discerning what the next steps are.
Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the…PEACE MAKERS…
Ephesians 2:14-15 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace…
What if you could see the future?
Here’s the wildest theme of this movie. If you could see the future, if you could see the JOY and the PAIN, would you still walk into it knowing that Joy & Pain will go hand in hand?
- Would you say NO to the potential joy, because you want to avoid the pain?
- Would you say NO to love because you want to avoid the struggle.
Louise has to make a choice. She can continue to walk into her future, knowing full well what it will be, or she can walk another direction and avoid the hurt she sees on the horizon. If she does, she’ll also miss out on the Joy. The indication is that she embraces the future, JOY & PAIN.
But what would you do?
Here’s where the gospel story might connect the most. Who is one person who knew how things would turn out, knew the pain that came with his mission, knew the struggle that he’d face in the future, but still chose love and relationship and community?
God the Father & Jesus the Son.
God knew that Jesus would suffer…and he knew that humans would disappoint, but he chooses to experience it anyway.
Costello, one of the two aliens in the ship, who had the gift of foreknowledge and seeing the future was injured and eventually dies. Even though he knew his future, knowing the pain and struggle awaiting him on earth, he comes anyways, to help, to save – sounds a little (or a lot) like Jesus.
God makes his choice. He chooses me. He chooses you.
He comes, through Jesus, and speaks our language.
He comes, through Jesus, to reconcile us to him (not push us further away).
If nothing else about this movie moves you, I hope these final words do.
Arrival is a fictional story, about aliens and humans, about conflict and peace, about language and understanding, about love and pain. How much can you take away from a story like this?
Next time you’re in a theatre or watching a movie on TV, look a little deeper, who knows what you’ll stumble on.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – –
On tap for next week – HIDDEN FIGURES
by Jonathan Manafo | Jul 4, 2017 | Sunday Conversations
As we bring this series to a close our hope is that we end in the same way we started it: If there’s one thing we want to appreciate and understand about the Holy Spirit, it’s this – He is present.
As a kid I used to do something strange to get my mom’s attention. Maybe you can identify with this. I’d stretch out my hand, move my mom’s face toward mine, and hope that if she was actually looking at me, she’d be listening to me. Kids think that parents aren’t lis
tening to them, c’mon, is that true? Well…as a parent myself now, I can admit to not paying full attention every time my kids are speaking to me. Guilty as charged.
I wonder if we do this with God? Actually, I know that we do. We plead for him to show up. It’s consistent with what we read in the Scriptures. People like King David would ask God to turn his face toward him, to show up, to be present, to help, etc. But can’t we understand that God is already here…with us…present? And perhaps it’s actually us who need to turn our face toward him?
To be spiritual is to know fully that God is present, right here, right now!!! It’s the narrative of scripture – God is always reminding, repeating, renewing this truth…OT/NT, through Jesus, via the Holy Spirit,
GOD IS PRESENT!
When the Holy Spirit abides in our hearts, it is he who makes us understand that the Lord is near and takes care of us. (Pope Francis)
We read these words in Psalm 139:
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
The question we must ask is…Am I present? Am I aware? Am I awake?
Spirituality, as followers of Jesus, must mean that we are awake to what God, through the Holy Spirit is doing…In ME, In OTHERs, In the ROOM, In the WORLD.
IN ME
I need to be awake to God’s presence. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:19, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?”
In the preceding verses, Paul is focused on transformation – on conviction about things in our lives that need to change. If we don’t stay awake to the SPIRIT, we will miss how he wants to lead us, how he wants to change us, how the Spirit wants to transform us.
There’s nothing more ‘near’ than something living in you! These are Paul’s words, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. This is God’s new dwelling…not in bricks, or nations, or just one people, but in anyone who will have the Spirit live in them.
IN / FOR OTHERS
How about being awake to the Spirit for the sake of others…for the sake of what God is not only doing in you, but what he wants to do in others? We talk about wanting to make a difference in the world, but if we aren’t aware of the Spirit’s activity around us, how can we dive into it? If we’re not awake to what God is up to, how can we participate in it?
Practice the Presence of God
Is it possible to actually know God’s presence or his voice or his leading in the ‘now’…right now…and now…and…now.
A few of years ago I came across a Greg Boyd book called, Present Perfect: Finding God in the Now. He argues of course that you can. And so do the scriptures. The thing is, as Boyd says, most of us live like God is only around a percentage of the time. This isn’t a legalism thing, it’s a relational thing.
We need to somehow get used to capturing his presence. Think about it like photography…there are those who can, and those who can’t. Some are naturally gifted, but much of it is practice and being ready for the moment. The more you understand and know your camera, the better you’ll be at capturing the moment it when you see it. Mark Buchanan calls this practicing being attentive to God: rehearse, repeat, work, rework, pray, reflect…and then when the moment comes, capture it.
The question isn’t if I can explain the theory or theology of a relationship with God but did I actually take time today to listen to God? (Tim Day)
The Christian life is the practice of living in what God has done and is doing. (E. Peterson)
We remember the past and anticipate the future, but we always do so in the present. Reality is always now. And the single most important aspect of reality is that God is present in it every moment. (Greg Boyd)
Our brains are constantly at work. We’re told that we have 7-9 thoughts every second. Greg Boyd suggests at least keeping one of those thoughts open to God. I also heard him ask this question, “In the last 7 days, when did you do something you didn’t plan?” When did you do something, simply because you sensed God wanted you to…because you were awake and alert?
Remember, we are only as good (impactful) to the degree that we are aware and awake.
We need to be as present to God as he is present to us.
So I leave you with this prayer…
“May we have a robust spirituality knowing deeply that God is there…that God is here, in every moment, in every place, in every space. May we respond to his presence in a way that reflects his kingdom on earth, his ways in mine, his values in my actions. May we be awake to the Holy Spirit, his conviction, wisdom, transformative power, and mission – in the right now of our lives.”
by Jonathan Manafo | Jun 28, 2017 | Sunday Conversations
Just ahead of finishing up our ‘spirituality’ series, we thought we’d fit in a brief talk about summer, your plans for it, and why it’s important to schedule more than vacations and rest.
There are officially 93 days of summer. June 21-September 21. It creeps us on us quickly, and unfortunately rushes out just as fast. Like a great night on the town or a concert watching your favaourite band, summer ends too quickly. In Canada we don’t think about summer as 93 days, let’s face it, we think about July & August. Sure, we get teased with some nice weather before hand, and some warm weather in September and October, but July & August are our summer months and we try and get the most out of them.
Some of us are planners. We plan every day of the summer. We know what’s coming, how much it will cost, and how to make the best of it. Others of us just let the summer happen, hoping that we can have a little fun and rest somewhere along the way.
Other than the vacations you’ve planned, the rest you’re hoping for, the fun you’ve written into your calendar, will you think about intentionally adding two more words to your summer?
Here’s our summer challenge: Two Months / Two Words. Kindness & Hospitality.
Following up last week’s conversation on the Fruit of the Spirit, we can honestly focus on any one of those words. Kindness, perhaps more than the others, surprises people the most. What you’ll notice with Kindness, as with the others, is that it’s something we receive from God and then extend it forward to others.
There are 56 references to kindness in the Scripture (link)
In the Old Testament, some are in reference to memory, some are reciprocal (as in, ‘you showed me kindness so I will show you kindness’), like a returning gift. We often see God showing kindness even though we (Israel) don’t deserve it.
In the New Testament it shows up in various forms. In Acts 4, healing is seen an act of kindness from God and the one praying, In Acts 17 God’s kindness is seen in the form of provision, In Acts 28 we read, The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. This is evidence of the good in people – it’s there, we just have to discover it. Romans 2 says that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance. In Colossians 3 it’s seen as a piece of clothing we put on. Titus 3 may be a favourite, 3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
So…how do we ensure that kindness gets deep within us? Take time this summer to read and pray through those texts of scripture that focus on God’s kindness. Take some time, while on vacation, while at the beach, while at the cottage, during early morning sunrises or late evening sun sets…to think about God’s kindness to you. Be thankful for how God expresses this kindness towards you and the world around you. Then, as you’re reflecting on that…will you creatively think about how you can be kind to others? This might take a bit of prayer and bit of thoughtful creativity. Be looking, in every moment you find yourself in, for ways to be kind to others – those you love and those who are harder to love.
Why Hospitality? Because it’s showed to us and then flows out of us, just like kindness!
We read these straight forward words in Romans 12, Practice hospitality.
The writer of Hebrews (13) says, Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
3 John 1 says, We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.
1 Peter 4 says this, 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
In my home province of Quebec, on June 24, they celebrate St. Jean Baptiste Day. As you can imagine, like most holidays, It’s used for stuff like fireworks, a day at the beach, lots of parties with lots of “fun”, etc. But listen to what John the Baptist actually said…(Luke 3:11) “Anyone who has two shirts should share with one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”
It’s pretty evident that this is our calling as followers of Christ – In light of the hospitality shown to us by God, we should in turn be hospitable to others.
How can you be kind and hospitable this summer? How can you extend God’s grace to others? Think about at least 4 places to live out these words
- home (sometimes the toughest place to show this)
- neighbourhood (walk across the street, invite someone to your home)
- work (talk to that guy or girl who no one else pays much attention too)
- church community (pray about who may need something that you have abundance of)
Be intentional about it, plan it, do it, and see what God does with it.
Intention opens the door to forward motion. (Seth Godin)
So, as you plan your summer vacation, your days at the beach, your R&R events…can you add these two words your summer story: KINDNESS & HOSPITALITY. Who knows, maybe it’ll turn out to be the best summer you’ve ever had!
by Jonathan Manafo | Jun 20, 2017 | Sunday Conversations
I’ve tried my hand at gardening. The verdict is still out if I’ll be successful. Things are growing, but time will tell if we’ll actually eat some fresh food from our garden. My bet is yes!!!
So many of us don’t really consider how much work it takes to get food to and on our table. We go to the fridge to grab an apple or the counter to grab a banana, but think about all that went in to that fresh food getting to your table?
The average person can’t tell what kind of tree they’re looking at until the fruit or the leaves start to show. We sometimes use this metaphor when talking about character and personality. We can try and tell people what kind of people we are, but it’s our fruit that really tells the story. The proof is in the pudding (as they say).
We’ve been talking about what it means to be spiritual, and what the Holy Spirit’s role is in our life. So the question is, ‘is there any spiritual fruit we are producing that reflects the spiritual work going on inside of us?’
Paul, in Galatians 5, addresses this so well. “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
If someone asks you, ‘What does spirituality look like?’ I think you can show them these words and say, ‘it looks like this’.
Spirituality isn’t about pizzazz or flamboyancy. It’s about character and roots. About seeds and fruit. About who you’re becoming because of God’s Spirit in you.
Galatians 5 is about the freedom we have found in Christ. Paul is trying to move his readers away from 2 things: Reliance on the Law & the works of the Flesh. That’s the context
WALK by the SPIRIT
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (5:16)
The words that follow this verse are strong and direct. Paul urges the Galatians to stay away from the acts of the flesh. He lists them off in verses 19-21. Some read this verse and scream legalism, but you can’t do that. It’s a serious list of DON’T’s. (Remember: Following Jesus is not about DO’s & DON’Ts, but as you follow him, you’ll have to discern between some things you DO and some things you DON’T)
What Paul is doing is setting us up for the contrast between Life in the Spirit and Life without the Spirit.
The proof is in the FRUIT
Then comes the beautiful list of character traits that anyone would want to be known for.
But the fruit of the Spirit is…
LOVE
JOY
PEACE
PATIENCE (putting up with more than others can)
KINDNESS / GOODNESS
FAITHFULNESS (to others and to God)
GENTLESS
SELF-CONTROL (the hardest of the bunch)
If you wanna be spiritual, then you wanna live a life that reflects what’s going on here.
The Fruit of the Spirit are very different than the Gifts of the Spirit, in that Gifts are unique to the individual. Each person has a different gift. Paul, with his fruit metaphor is saying that we are meant to have and produce all the fruit on this list. (and more) Our life should reflect the cluster of all of them.
Keep in STEP with the SPIRIT
Paul ends with this simple phrase… Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (25)
Live in stride with the Spirit, in step, in the way of the spirit. If you do, your life will not only look different, it will actually be different.
The goal of spirituality isn’t about who you think you are, it’s about who you are actually becoming.
Here’s the question: Who do you want to be? Who are you actually becoming? And is that version of you spiritual – spiritual in the way that Paul is telling us spirituality is?
May our spirituality be real, authentic, evident and healthy, tasty and fresh. May it produce fruit that only God’s Spirit can plant in us.
by Jonathan Manafo | May 24, 2017 | Sunday Conversations
Seems like when we ask the question, “What does it mean to be spiritual?” we come at it as individuals and try and take from it something for ourselves, personally, almost selfishly.
We might say or ask things like
– I want to know what it means to be spiritual
– I wish I was more spiritual
– I wonder if I’m spiritual enough
– You think there’s more out there for me?
It’s easy to get stuck here – on my individual spiritual journey. You might get a certain distance on your own, but you’ll never get as far. This old proverb may help us here, “If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
You can’t get too far into the biblical narrative (both OT & NT) before discovering that spirituality is a community thing…a team effort you might say. Following Jesus doesn’t happen in isolation; living a full and spiritual life doesn’t happen alone either.
If you’ve ever been part of a band or a team you understand this a little better. Your team is only as good as everyone’s contribution. A band or orchestra will be it’s best when everyone is doing their part and appreciated for it.
Paul’s letter to the Corinthians really helps us here. Actually, it’s where much of this idea of community spirituality comes from. The church community, the body of Christ, is where our spirituality is formed, where it comes together, where we grow in our spiritual maturity.
Paul has to address some difficulties and disjointedness in Corinth. People aren’t appreciating what others have to offer. They are comparing the gifts they feel they’ve received from the Spirit. They’ve gotten to a point where there’s too much me and not enough we.
In chapters 12-14, Paul takes time to explain what spiritual gifts are, what they do, how they’re used in the context of community, and how love must be front and centre for spiritual gifts and the people who use them to shine.
Paul says, “I want you to be informed about spiritual gifts.” He wants to bring clarity in the midst of confusion. We learn here that there are MANY gifts…but ONE Spirit. That there is much spiritual activity, but ONE God who activates it in us.
What are the gifts Paul is actually referring too: In Romans 12 we see prophesy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading, compassion; In 1 Corinthians 12 we see wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophesy, discernment, tongues, interpretation. In Ephesians 4 we read about apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers, pastors. Most scholars say this is not an exhaustive list.
We’re told that the reason for, and the manifestation of these gifts are for the common good; build up one another, help one another, help us in our walk towards spiritual maturity.
Paul continues this conversation on spiritual gifts, with his readers and us, by moving into what it means to be part of the body of Christ. It is not an accident that these two themes are connected in the same chapter.
If we go back to the orchestra analogy we’re reminded that every instrument plays its part in performing a piece of music, not just the prominent ones. In baseball every position on the field is important, not just the pitcher or the homerun hitter. In football the quarter back gets lots of attention, but every person on that field plays a part in winning a game.
What’s the connection here? Everyone has something to offer. Spiritual gifts are only understood in the context of community. Which means that spiritual growth and being ‘spiritual’ is fully realized in the context of that same community, the church. Read these brilliant words in 1 Corinthians 12:12-31.
Following the conversation from spiritual gifts to the body of Christ, Paul then moves into the topic of love. We often read 1 Corinthians 13 out of context. It’s read at weddings and engagements and other occasions where love is celebrated. But the purpose of these words were always to help the reader understand that spirituality without love is useless.
Think about it? You can speak in other tongues, move mountains, share knowledge, lead crowds, give money away, etc. BUT if there is no love, those gifts of the spirit don’t accomplish anything in you or others.
I hope you investigate the gifts of the spirit. I hope you do the worthwhile work of discovering what you have to offer the world and the church, but know that true spirituality is never selfish, it doesn’t mature in isolation, it grows in the midst of a healthy community of people who follow Jesus together and who are convinced that love is the funnel through which our spirituality flows through.
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small(er) group discussion:
What are your initial thoughts or questions around spiritual gifts? Are you coming to this topic fresh or with some baggage?
If you were to take an inventory of your spiritual gifts, where would you land? What would they be? Are you working with (and at) what you sense God has gifted you with?
Have you been guilty of seeing spirituality as a ME thing and not enough as a WE thing? Why is it so important to base this conversation in community and love?
Can everything be spiritual? Can every gift or skill you have be spiritual? If so, how? If you disagree, why?
